Asked by: Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination as a result of signing up to the Time to Change Pledge.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Since signing the Time to Change Pledge in September 2014, we have focussed on raising awareness across our network through promotion of the Action Plan agreed as part of the Pledge. To help facilitate this, we continued to be an active member of the Time To Change Peer Network Group and the recently launched Whitehall wide network to learn and share best practice.
On specific follow-up with staff, the FCO has arranged a number of Stress Management sessions for staff working in our offices in London and Milton Keynes.
The FCO will in future be promoting Mental Health awareness internally as part of our "Good Line Manager" campaign, as well as making staff aware of the range of disability awareness products which are available through Civil Service Learning.
Within the FCO’s Consular Directorate staff training has increased by 30% in the last year to help staff to confidently support customers with mental health needs. We have also focused outreach in overseas Posts to establish what support is available for customers and as a consequence staff knowledge has increased by 14%. We also have a Mind How you Go Travel Info-graphic which is available on our website.
Asked by: Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what restrictions are in place on trade with, and exports to, Iran; what changes there have been in such restrictions in the last two years; what his policy is on amending the current restrictions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The EU has an extensive sanctions regime against Iran, including an oil embargo and severe restrictions on the Iranian financial sector. In December 2012, the EU added further measures, including trade in raw metals and the import of Iranian natural gas. As a result of the Joint Plan of Action, agreed between Iran and the E3+3, the EU agreed to suspend sanctions on trade in petrochemicals, gold and precious metals and not to impose any new sanctions for the duration of the agreement. Unless the nuclear issue is resolved, the government will not promote trade with Iran and the EU sanctions will remain in place.